Faith's POV

Well this is obviously a complete lack of fun.

I take B's hand in mine and give it a little squeeze as we wait for The Council to arrive. She gives me that worried smile she's been wearing ever since we talked about why The Council might be coming.

She's worried they somehow figured out Dawn's the key and are coming to take her away. But there's no way they could know, Dawn has records. She's got medical records, a birth certificate, school records, and an obsession with cute boys, everything a girl her age needs to prove she's real. There's no way the monks would've left a huge flashing neon sign somewhere saying 'BY THE WAY DAWN'S THE KEY', which is the only way The Council could find out about Dawn.

It doesn't stop her from worrying though, but that's okay. I'm really worried myself, and she knows why. The Council and I don't exactly have the best of history. Plus, whatever The Council has to say, it can't be good news. They don't usually bring good news, and they don't usually travel half way around the world to bring good news. Whatever they have, it's really bad and they want to be here to see the looks on our faces when we hear the news.

"Damn English people!"

We all look at Anya, especially Giles who's slightly pissed off at the comment.

"Anya honey, you shouldn't make comments like that with Giles around."

"Pfft! At least he's here, these council people don't even have the decency to show up on time. Now I know why British people are known for being snobby."

We all smile at that, even Giles.

"Yes, they can be rather pretentious at times."

"I'm sorry to hear you've lost your respect for us Rupert, especially since you used to be one of us."

We all turn to see some stupid guy in tweed walk through the magic shop's door, followed by a couple other British looking people dressed just as badly.

"Yes, well how shall I put this? You fired me. I can feel however I bloody well want."

"Gotta be The Council..."

"Quite right young lady, and who might you be?"

"I'm Anya, what's your name?"

"My name is Quentin Travers. It's very nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too."

Anya looks at Xander.

"Xander, you told me The Council were a bunch of stuffy old British people who act like they own the world. They seem nice."

The council guys all look at Xander. He just smiles at them.

"You have to get to know them first Anya. Once you do you'll realize they're a bunch of self righteous pricks."

Damn right B.

"Ms Summers, good to see you again."

"Can't say the same Quentin..."

"Yes well... how are you Faith?"

I just stare at him and cross my arms over my chest. He pretty much half smiles at me and then sits down in the chair across the table from us.

"Well I'm glad to see none of you have lost your... zest for life after everything you've been through, particularly you Ms Summers."

Okay now I'm saying something.

"Get to the point Travers so we can kick you out."

"Oh I don't think we will be going anywhere quite yet but I suppose I should get to the point."

What does he mean they won't be going anywhere?

"We've discovered some information about this Glory you've encountered. Most of it is simply extremely disturbing, and some of it could prove useful, assuming you can survive long enough to use it."

Survive long enough? Who does he think he's dealing with?

"This information is highly sensitive and we will not hand it over until we can be sure the information is safe."

"And exactly how are we supposed to prove that to you?"

"A review..."

A review?

"It's an extensive check of your methods. We will also test your strength, speed, and ability to react under pressure."

Not a chance in hell.

Anya whispers really loudly to Xander.

"I see now what you mean about them thinking they own the world."

"There's no way I'm agreeing to such a stupid and pointless waste of time."

He grins at me and I really wanna wipe it off his face.

"If you refuse to accept the arrangement we will leave."

Xander speaks up at that statement.

"I'm sorry, maybe it's me but I'm failing to see the downside to these two options. Either you give us the information and go away or you just go away. The way I see it, it's a win-win sitch for us."

I smile at Travers.

"He's not wrong."

One of his not very intimidating cronies comes up next to him.

"We shall also arrange to have Mr. Giles deported within the day should you refuse."

What a load of crap.

"You can't do that."

"Oh I think you'll find that we can and we will. Now perhaps you are used to idle threats, but you're dealing with grown ups now and we are quite serious on this matter."

That son of a bitch!

I stand up and slug him in the jaw, sending him to the floor. Before anyone can register their shock of that action I'm over the table and on top of him, knee in his stomach and my hands around his neck.

"You wanna deal in grown up threats? Fine! If any one of your little watcher pets so much as breathes wrong, I'll snap your neck."

"Faith what are you doing?"

I wave behind me with one hand at B before putting it back around his neck.

"I'm being a grown up sweetie just give me a minute."

I press my thumb against his Adam's apple.

"Now... in case you haven't heard, I'm the most powerful slayer that ever lived. I killed the first original demon that also happened to be the most powerful. There's not a single thing, living or dead, on this planet that can take me. The only reason this demon chick Glory isn't a sticky paste on my shoes is because I only managed to get in one shot which sent her through a brick wall and then running for cover. So that's got me wondering, how much safer does this information have to be?"

His eyes go wide as I squeeze his neck a little bit and the air in his lungs has a harder time getting out.

"Faith?"

"Hold on a sec B, I think I'm getting through to him."

I press a little harder on his throat.

"You might be used to death threats coming by mail but I'd be willing to bet you're not much when it's staring you in the face."

I lean right up into him and put almost all my weight, but not enough to do any real damage, onto his neck and stare him in the eyes.

"Especially from someone you KNOW will make good on it."

He starts to cough and I take my hands off his neck, standing up seconds later. I grab his collar and pull him off the floor, dumping him back in his seat. I sit down on the edge of the table in front of him and put my foot against his crotch.

"Now, here's how the deal is gonna work. You're going to give us the information we need, and we won't be jumping through any of your hoops to get it, then you're gonna go away..."

One of the watchers tries to grow some balls by approaching me.

"This is intolerable, we will not be..."

I give him a hard, right cross to the face which sends him to the floor and shuts him up.

"I'm pretty sure this isn't a negotiation. Now, as I was saying... we're getting this information of yours and then you're gonna go away. If you find out any other info we might want, I expect a phone call on the subject to Giles, who you will be rehiring in order to accept those phone calls. I don't want to see you show up in this town unless either me or Buffy ask you to come. If any of the people we care about, which includes but is not limited to everyone in this room who isn't British or recently rehired by you, falls on hard times I'm going to start feeling as though it's your fault. Now..."

I press my foot full into his crotch.

"How does that deal strike you?"

He stares at me, trying not to look afraid despite the fact that I nearly killed him a few seconds ago, but I can tell he is.

I'm betting everyone else in the room can tell too.

"I believe your terms to be acceptable."

"Good..."

I reach out and fix his collar and tie.

"So let's talk about Glory shall we?"